SOUTH AMERICA

12.28.11

Argentina’s President Has Cancer

Daniel Garcia, AFP / Getty Images

Argentina’s popular president, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer and will step aside for 20 days in January as she undergoes treatment. Fernandez, 58, was just reelected in October; doctors say her cancer has not yet spread to other parts of her body and that her prognosis is very good. In her absence, Vice-President Amado Boudou will take over.